Swimming Pool, help!

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
I finally got the pool turned around a bit, but still having a few issues

Pool Differences


There is crud on the bottom, and when i try to hookup my vaccuum hose with the flow pro sand filter through the doughboy through wall skimmer, when It returns water to the pool the water is green and nasty instead of clean, why isnt it filtering!


Man I hate pools, already $150-200 put into it lol, and still need a lot more chemicals for the next month


Edit: Updated with pics

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool3.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool4.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool5.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool6.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool7.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool8.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/pool9.jpg



I vaccuumed it right out last night, getting there!!

Pool Difference updated
 
HardcoreRobot

HardcoreRobot

Lifer
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
backwash the filter

(runs water reverse therough the filter and is discarded along with the crap caught in the filter)
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Yeah I backwashed it until clear water came out, about 3 times, and instantly does the same thing
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: jalaram
Originally posted by: spidey07
filters don't last forever. Maybe need new one?
Click to expand...

That or acid-wash the old filter. It depends on how old the filter is.
Click to expand...

It is a sand filter, does that matter?
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
The filter isn't going to last more than mere minutes if you're vacuuming nasty crud..bypass the filter and let the pump vacuum water completely out of the pool. Your water level will drop some, but it's not going to work too well otherwise..unless you like changing the filter every 90 seconds.

*personal experience..we had tadpoles in our pool 3 weeks ago*
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: CadetLee
The filter isn't going to last more than mere minutes if you're vacuuming nasty crud..bypass the filter and let the pump vacuum water completely out of the pool. Your water level will drop some, but it's not going to work too well otherwise..unless you like changing the filter every 90 seconds.

*personal experience..we had tadpoles in our pool 3 weeks ago*
Click to expand...

It is a sand filter, do i need to replace a sand filter? I dont think so... but im a noooob

I suppose i could set it on drain or something instead of filter. but that would be a lot of water since it owuld be running for a bit to get it all up
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Originally posted by: dxkj
Originally posted by: CadetLee
The filter isn't going to last more than mere minutes if you're vacuuming nasty crud..bypass the filter and let the pump vacuum water completely out of the pool. Your water level will drop some, but it's not going to work too well otherwise..unless you like changing the filter every 90 seconds.

*personal experience..we had tadpoles in our pool 3 weeks ago*
Click to expand...

It is a sand filter, do i need to replace a sand filter? I dont think so... but im a noooob

I suppose i could set it on drain or something instead of filter. but that would be a lot of water since it owuld be running for a bit to get it all up
Click to expand...

Trust me. Bypass the filter, or you'll be backflushing it every two minutes. You should have a 'waste' setting that will dump the water on the ground.

It doesn't look bad at all..is that solid stuff on the bottom, or will it vacuum out easily? If it's pine needles, you may want to consider taking them out by hand. We had pine needles clog our piping before..hacksaw & coupling -- not fun.

Edit: Sand filters get backflushed, not changed..sorry 'bout that. Our filter comes out & gets hosed down. Still bypass it, though - at least for the big stuff. It'll look like pea soup coming out..knocks your filter out in minutes. :)
 
gsellis

gsellis

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2003
6,061
0
0
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: dxkj
Originally posted by: CadetLee
The filter isn't going to last more than mere minutes if you're vacuuming nasty crud..bypass the filter and let the pump vacuum water completely out of the pool. Your water level will drop some, but it's not going to work too well otherwise..unless you like changing the filter every 90 seconds.

*personal experience..we had tadpoles in our pool 3 weeks ago*
Click to expand...

It is a sand filter, do i need to replace a sand filter? I dont think so... but im a noooob

I suppose i could set it on drain or something instead of filter. but that would be a lot of water since it owuld be running for a bit to get it all up
Click to expand...

Trust me. Bypass the filter, or you'll be backflushing it every two minutes. You should have a 'waste' setting that will dump the water on the ground.

It doesn't look bad at all..is that solid stuff on the bottom, or will it vacuum out easily? If it's pine needles, you may want to consider taking them out by hand. We had pine needles clog our piping before..hacksaw & coupling -- not fun.

Edit: Sand filters get backflushed, not changed..sorry 'bout that. Our filter comes out & gets hosed down. Still bypass it, though - at least for the big stuff. It'll look like pea soup coming out..knocks your filter out in minutes. :)
Click to expand...
QFT

 
HardcoreRobot

HardcoreRobot

Lifer
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
if every time you backflush its green again, that means you are making progress

the idea to vaccuum straight out of the pool may be the best idea, that crap will just clog the filter (especially since that is essentially what you are doing by sucking it into the filter then dumping it out via backwashing)

and yes, sand does need to be changed, but only after like 10 years
 
Phoenix86

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
If there is *that* much crud on the lining of the pool, it should be easier/faster to scrub that crap off, then skim it with a net.

Do this until you can vaccuum using the filter.

Vaccuuming w/o the filter will work, but if there is that much crap, you're going to empty the pool before you are done, so what's the point? Just empty the pool and start over if that's the direction you want to go.

edit:
<---Family owned a pool at my childhood house and I maintained it for years. I have worked it both ways (cleaning nasty pool while full and emptying out the pool and starting from tap water).

Can you get a better pic of the pool in it's current state? How much crap is on the walls?
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
If there is *that* much crud on the lining of the pool, it should be easier/faster to scrub that crap off, then skim it with a net.

Do this until you can vaccuum using the filter.

Vaccuuming w/o the filter will work, but if there is that much crap, you're going to empty the pool before you are done, so what's the point? Just empty the pool and start over if that's the direction you want to go.

edit:
<---Family owned a pool at my childhood house and I maintained it for years. I have worked it both ways (cleaning nasty pool while full and emptying out the pool and starting from tap water).

Can you get a better pic of the pool in it's current state? How much crap is on the walls?
Click to expand...

I can, but no internet at home so wont be until tommorrow.... Look at the blue picture, it has no crud on the sides at all, and the stuff on the bottom is just sitting there... what you see on the bottom is a remnant, since I vacuumed last it has about half of that left, but I was trying to fi gure out why my water was filtering back green

I will bring better pictures tommorrow
 
C

conehead433

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2002
5,569
901
126
Looks like algae. Treat for algae, shock with chlorine. A good sand filter should catch a good deal of it when vacuuming. Continue vacuuming until it's gone. Algae blooms usually occur after a heavy rain has added a good deal of fresh water to the pool, and also when chlorine levels are allowed to drop below effective levels. Check chlorine levels regularly, add when necessary.
 
I

Ikonomi

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2003
6,056
1
0
It's possible your filter has formed big, dirty mud balls out of your sand. The major symptom is poor filtering performance even immediately after a backflush. Since the sand is in big lumps, the water can create a channel which bypasses the bulk of the filtering material, so nothing gets filtered out. In my experience it takes a long time for a filter to get this way, so if your equipment isn't that old, this may not be your problem.

But when you say the water goes in clear and comes out green, I don't know. It's possible you've clogged your filter with gunk and it's being spat back into the pool. You might consider opening up the filter and taking a look. You can replace the sand if necessary.
 
Phoenix86

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Originally posted by: dxkj
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
If there is *that* much crud on the lining of the pool, it should be easier/faster to scrub that crap off, then skim it with a net.

Do this until you can vaccuum using the filter.

Vaccuuming w/o the filter will work, but if there is that much crap, you're going to empty the pool before you are done, so what's the point? Just empty the pool and start over if that's the direction you want to go.

edit:
<---Family owned a pool at my childhood house and I maintained it for years. I have worked it both ways (cleaning nasty pool while full and emptying out the pool and starting from tap water).

Can you get a better pic of the pool in it's current state? How much crap is on the walls?
Click to expand...

I can, but no internet at home so wont be until tommorrow.... Look at the blue picture, it has no crud on the sides at all, and the stuff on the bottom is just sitting there... what you see on the bottom is a remnant, since I vacuumed last it has about half of that left, but I was trying to fi gure out why my water was filtering back green

I will bring better pictures tommorrow
Click to expand...
If it's already loose (guess that makes sense since you can vaccuum it) then I'd try to fish that stuff out of the bottom with the net. Screw the vaccuum/filter until you can't skim it out anymore.

edit: Use a leaf net (net with a bag) as opposed to a skimming net (like a tennis racket). Not sure if those are the right names. ;)

edit2: apparently leaf net and skimming net are both used to describe both types of nets. :confused:

Use one like this.
 
T

tami

Lifer
Nov 14, 2004
11,588
3
81
my mom uses a pool cleaner who comes in weekly to clean the pool. go get one :p
 
J

Jawo

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
4,125
0
0
Originally posted by: dxkj
Yeah I backwashed it until clear water came out, about 3 times, and instantly does the same thing
Click to expand...

Pools looking great!

I do know that with DE filters that if you backwash till its clear, you have washed all of the DE out, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the filter. As already mentioned might want to take the cover off of the filter to check it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom